Bully Grip

ABSTRACT

A pet treat holding device designed to secure rigid pet treats and prevent dogs from choking on the treat, thereby eliminating the risk of stomach blockage and other health hazards. Through the application of compression and friction, the holder creates a gripping force around the rigid treat that prevents a dog from extracting a large piece of the treat, which could be hazardous if ingested. The pet treat holder is comprised of two rubber parts, the torus shaped housing surrounding an interior aperture. The treat is secured by compression and friction created by the center aperture. After inserting the treat stick into the opening and applying a twisting motion, securing the treat in place, the user can then present the treat to the dog. Because of the twisting lock action, the dog cannot remove the stick by chewing or pulling.

FIELD

Technology for pets currently relates to employing toys as treat holding devices. Although this unit could be used as a fetch toy, it mainly functions as a safety device that renders chew sticks safe for dogs. Through the use of dual molded components and a locking aperture, the two parts integrate into a single structure that functions seamlessly and with no edges. When molded together in manufacturing, the assembly renders rigid or semi-rigid, straight, curved, or spiral shape dog treats safe for chewing.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to pet treats that are rigid in nature (such as bully sticks, raw hide sticks, deer antler, and treat sticks that are bone like. They are consumable by dogs and pose a health hazard when eating these treats without a safety device attached. Dogs will chew on these treats until they can fit the entire treat in their mouth, then prematurely swallow the treat whole. There is a need for such a treat holder because choking and stomach blockage due to ingestion of a large piece of treat stick is a common issue for pet owners. The cost to pet owners when their dogs swallow a large piece of treat stick can be substantial. It also relates to a chew toy, that will provide your pet enjoyable entertainment.

The treat holders that are available today are not dog friendly. Dogs can destroy a treat holder if it has too many parts and ingest a loose part, which can then become a safety hazard. Also, the treat stick holders on the market today can only be attached to a straight treat stick, this holder can attached to many different shapes of treat sticks, such as straight, curved or spiral due to its flexible center aperture, as long as the treat is rigid or semi rigid.

SUMMARY

By providing a pet safety device that is made of non-toxic material and can hold a device in place, without being a hazard in itself. Pet owners will benefit in keeping their dogs safe while consuming chew sticks that have been known to cause a hazard when prematurely ingested by dogs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of the device split in the center.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the torus shape split in half.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the center aperture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the torus split in half.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the torus split in half.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the holding device with a treat inserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

This relates to a pet safety device, specifically a chew stick holding device for dogs. The design requires over-molding during the manufacturing process.

This holder is made of two parts: a torus shaped housing 4 and an aperture insert 5. An over-molding process melts the two parts together making the entire holder essentially one piece 1.

The torus shaped outer housing is made from a stronger and harder rubber 4, 9 material than the rubber inner aperture 5. The center aperture is placed at a depth 10 below the highest point of the aperture so that a pet cannot easily reach it. The center aperture is solid, and flexible 11.

The center aperture fits when tabs 15 are over-molded during manufacturing into the inner circular opening 12, 16 of the torus. The center aperture consists of solid projections 17 with a plurality pointing towards the centermost opening 18. Each of the projections narrows in toward the center with an exaggerated beaded shape 13 at the proximal end. A chew stick can be inserted into this aperture 8, with the application of repeated torque inputs by the dog owner, the chew stick twists in and through the center aperture, similar to screwing a lag bolt into a solid material. With increased force and torque, the stick travels further through the device and locks more securely. Through the forces of compression and friction the bead shaped tips 13 of the projections 17 deflect to the side 14 causing compression by the harder outer housing 9 and friction by the beaded projections 14. The beaded projections 13 close in the direction of applied torque 14, creating a strong bond that resists separation. The bond can be released when the dog owner applies a reverse twisting motion to remove the treat from the holder. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A pet treat holding device comprising: an outer housing; and an inner housing located within the outer housing, the inner housing having an internal aperture with a plurality of projections extending toward a center of the inner housing.
 10. The pet treat holding device of claim 9, wherein the inner housing has at least one tab on its outer surface that fits into an inner opening within the outer housing to secure the inner housing to the outer housing.
 11. The pet treat holding device of claim 9, wherein a first width of the inner housing is smaller than a second width of the outer housing defining a recess between the inner housing and the outer housing.
 12. The pet treat holding device of claim 9, wherein the outer housing and the inner housing are circular.
 13. The pet treat holding device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of projections has a bead on an end closest to the center of the inner housing, wherein each of the plurality of projections and respective beads is capable of being radially deflected to a side.
 14. The pet treat holding device of claim 13, wherein when a substantially rigid object is twisted into the internal aperture in a first radial direction, the projections and the beads band and tighten adjacent to each other as the substantially rigid object is twisted in the first radial direction.
 15. The pet treat holding device of claim 9, wherein each of the projections narrow in width as they get closer to the center, and then expand wider at the bead on the end of the respective projection, such that a neck portion is formed between one end of each projection and the bead positioned at the end of each projection.
 16. The pet treat holding device of claim 14, wherein when the substantially rigid object is inserted by twisting into the internal aperture, the inner housing is compressed radially outward against the outer housing.
 17. A holder comprising: an outer housing; and an inner housing located within the outer housing, wherein the inner housing comprises: an internal aperture disposed at a center of the inner housing; projections extending toward the center of the inner housing; and a bead on an end of each projection, wherein when a rigid object is twisted and inserted into the internal aperture, each projection and associated bead deflect radially to one side thereby creating a firm compression hold against the rigid object to secure it in position.
 18. The holder of claim 17, wherein the inner housing has at least one tab on its outer surface that fits into an inner opening within the outer housing to secure the inner housing to the outer housing.
 19. The holder of claim 17, wherein a first width of the inner housing is smaller than a second width of the outer housing defining a recess between the inner housing and the outer housing.
 20. The holder of claim 17, wherein the outer housing and the inner housing are circular.
 21. The holder of claim 17, wherein each of the projections narrow in width as they get closer to the center, and then expand wider at the bead on the end of the respective projection, such that a neck portion is formed between one end of each projection and the bead positioned at the end of each projection.
 22. The holder of claim 17, wherein when a substantially rigid object is inserted by twisting into the internal aperture, the inner housing is compressed radially outward against the outer housing.
 23. A pet treat holder comprising: an outer housing; and an inner housing located within the outer housing, wherein the inner housing comprises: an internal aperture disposed at a center of the inner housing; compressing projections disposed in the inner housing around the internal aperture, each projection extending toward the center of the inner housing; and a bead on an inner end of each compressing projection, wherein when a substantially rigid object is inserted into the inner housing, beads deflect radially to one side thereby creating a firm compression hold against the substantially rigid object.
 24. The pet treat holder of claim 23, wherein the inner housing has at least one tab on its outer surface that fits into an inner opening within the outer housing to secure the inner housing to the outer housing.
 25. The pet treat holder of claim 23, wherein a first width of the inner housing is smaller than a second width of the outer housing defining a recess between the inner housing and the outer housing.
 26. The pet treat holder of claim 23, wherein each of the compressing projections narrow in width as they get closer to the center, and then expand wider at the bead on the end of the respective compressing projection, such that a neck portion is formed between one end of each compressing projection and the bead positioned at the end of each compressing projection.
 27. The pet treat holder of claim 23, wherein when a substantially rigid object is inserted by twisting into the internal aperture, the inner housing is compressed radially outward against the outer housing.
 28. The pet treat holder of claim 23, wherein the outer housing and the inner housing are circular. 